Obituaries

Pleasanton Man Died a Hero Trying to Save Suicidal Man

Philip Scholz, 35, will killed by an express train traveling up to 70 mph at the Santa Clara Caltrain station last week.

When Pleasanton resident Philip Scholz, 35, saw a suicidal man on Caltrain tracks in Santa Clara last Monday, he did everything he could to save him. He lost his life trying.

The second man was also hit by the train, but survived. He was taken to the hospital with critical injuries. His identity has not been released.

Scholz's wife, friends and coworkers aren’t surprised that he died a hero—they say he wasn’t someone who could stand by idly when someone was in need, even a stranger.

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His widow, Emily, told NBC Bay Area, "He saw someone in danger and did what he could, or what he thought he could, to assist.” Emily and Phil were married for 7 years. They met in college.

Scholz was a graduate of Santa Clara University. He joined Nvidia in 2001, rising through the ranks to Senior Marketing Manager.

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Nvidia co-founder Chris Malachowsky was stunned by Scholz’s death. He told the San Jose Mercury News, "I'm sure his knee-jerk, no hesitation to help someone else is what caused this -- he goes down as a hero in my book."

Friends remember Scholz as competitive, fun, and a guy who’d do anything for you.

Services for Scholz will be held at the Veterans Memorial Building, 301 Main St., Pleasanton at 10 a.m. on Feb. 10. You may sign a guestbook for his family on Legacy.com.


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